Image apparatus prioritizing displayed attribute information for recognized people

ABSTRACT

An imaging apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store attribute information about a person and information about a priority of the person with the attribute information associated with the information about a priority, an imaging unit configured to capture a subject to generate image data, and a display unit configured to display attribute information of a person included in an image represented by the image data generated by the imaging unit. When displaying plural pieces of attribute information for a plurality of people with the plurality pieces of attribute information being overlapped, the display unit displays attribute information of a person having a higher priority above attribute information of a person having a lower priority.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and moreparticularly to an imaging apparatus capable of displaying personalinformation of a persons included in an image.

2. Related Art

Conventionally, electronic cameras to which face recognitiontechnologies are applied are known. For example, JP2006-165822Adiscloses an electronic camera to which face recognition technologiesare applied. In the electronic camera, when a person whose personalinformation is registered is authenticated, the personal information canbe displayed superimposed on a captured image.

When personal information is displayed with the personal informationsuperimposed on a captured image, a user may have difficulty inrecognizing the personal information depending on how the personalinformation is presented, which may rather decrease usability. Forexample, personal information displayed superimposed on an image maymake it difficult to identify the original subject image, or displayingof a plurality of pieces of personal information concurrently may makeit difficult to recognize the personal information. In particular, whena user is seeing a through image to determine a composition of an image,the above-described problems may degrade user convenience in terms ofrecognition of personal information.

SUMMARY

An object is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of displayingpersonal information of a person included in an image that can improveuser convenience in terms of visibility of the personal information.

In a first aspect, an imaging apparatus is provided that includes astorage unit configured to store attribute information about a personand information about a priority of the person with the attributeinformation associated with the information about a priority, an imagingunit configured to capture a subject to generate image data, and adisplay unit configured to display attribute information of a personincluded in an image represented by the image data generated by theimaging unit. When displaying plural pieces of attribute information fora plurality of people with the plurality pieces of attribute informationbeing overlapped, the display unit displays attribute information of aperson having a higher priority above attribute information of a personhaving a lower priority.

According to the invention, when displaying attribute information (e.g.name) for a plurality of people, the attribute information for a personhaving a higher priority is displayed above the attribute informationfor a person having a lower priority. By this configuration, the name ofa person whose priority is considered to be higher by the user can bepresented to the user on a priority basis, enabling improvement of userconvenience in the visibility of attribute information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital videocamera of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a face frame is displayedaround a face of a person to be identified.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of registering a face to beidentified, that is performed by the digital video camera.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for describing a method of registering aface which is to be identified.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process for displaying a name of anauthenticated person in a first embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams describing exemplary displays of a displaymonitor when displaying a through image in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process for displaying a name of anauthenticated person in a second embodiment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams describing exemplary displays of a displaymonitor when displaying a through image in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another example of the process fordisplaying a name of an authenticated person in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process for displaying a name of anauthenticated person in a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

First Embodiment 1-1. Overview

A digital video camera 100 according to a present embodiment canidentify a face which is registered in advance as an object to beidentified in an image which is captured by an imaging device. Thedigital video camera when identifies the face registered in advance asan object to be identified can display attribute information (e.g. name)related to a person having the face around the face to be identifiedwhen displaying a through image on a display monitor.

1-2. Configuration

An electrical configuration of the digital video camera 100 according tothe present embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 isa block diagram illustrating a configuration of the digital video camera100. The digital video camera 100 captures a subject image formed by anoptical system 110 composed of one or a plurality of lenses with a CCDimage sensor 140. Video data generated by the CCD image sensor 140 issubject to various processes in an image processor 160, and is stored ina memory card 200. The configuration of the digital video camera 100 isdescribed in detail below.

The optical system 110 is composed of a zoom lens and a focus lens. Thezoom lens is moved along an optical axis, so that a subject image can beenlarged or reduced. Further, the focus lens is moved along the opticalaxis so that a focus of a subject image can be adjusted.

A lens driver 120 drives various lenses included in the optical system110. For example, the lens driver 120 includes a zoom motor for drivingthe zoom lens and a focus motor for driving the focus lens.

A diaphragm 300 adjusts an aperture automatically or according to user'ssettings to regulate a quantity of transmitting light.

A shutter 130 is a unit for shielding light to be transmitted throughthe CCD image sensor 140.

The CCD image sensor 140 captures a subject image formed by the opticalsystem 110 to generate video data. The CCD image sensor 130 performsvarious operations such as exposure, transfer, and electronic shutter.

An A/D converter 150 converts analog video data generated by the CCDimage sensor 140 into digital video data.

By applying the various image processes to video data generated by theCCD image sensor 140, an image processor 160 generates video data to bedisplayed on a display monitor 220 or generates video data to be storedin the memory card 200. For example, the image processor 160 executesimage processes such as gamma correction, white balance correction anddamage correction on the video data generated by the CCD image sensor140. Further, the image processor 160 compresses the video datagenerated by the CCD image sensor 140 according to a compressing formatconforming to the MPEG standards. The image processor 160 can berealized by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a microcomputer or thelike.

A controller 180 is a control unit for controlling an entire operationof the digital video camera. The controller 180 can be realized by asemiconductor device or the like. The controller 180 may be composed ofonly hardware, or of a combination of hardware and software. Thecontroller 180 can be realized by a microcomputer or the like. Thecontroller 180 controls the digital video camera 100 with a control modeincluding a recording mode for capturing a subject and a faceregistration mode for registering in advance a face of a subject bymanual operation.

The controller 180 has a function (face detection function) fordetecting a face included in an image represented by the video datagenerated by the image processor 160. This function is describedconcretely below. An internal memory 240 stores information aboutpositions of eyes, a nose, a mouth, and so on in a face of a standardperson or the like. The controller 180 determines whether an imagerepresented by the video data generated by the image processor 160includes a portion having a positional relationship similar to thepositional relationship among eyes, a nose and a mouth stored in theinternal memory 240. When it is determined that it includes the portionhaving the similar positional relationship, the controller 180 detects,as a face, a predetermined range around the portion.

Further, the controller 180 has a function for determining (personalauthentication function) whether a face of the subject represented bythe video data generated by the image processor 160 is identical to theface registered preliminarily in the internal memory 240. Specifically,the controller 180 detects the face in the image represented by thevideo data generated by the image processor 160 (face recognitionfunction). At the time of detecting the face, the controller 180quantifies and extracts feature amount information representing facialfeatures from the positional relationship among eyes, nose and mouth ofthe face, a color of the face, an outline of the face, eyebrows, and soon. When the facial feature amount information is extracted, thecontroller 180 determines whether the extracted feature amountinformation is similar to the facial feature amount informationregistered preliminarily in the internal memory 240. Specifically thecontroller 180 compares a value indicating the quantified feature amountinformation with a value indicating feature amount information of facestored in the internal memory 240, and determines whether the differencebetween the values falls within a predetermined range to determinewhether both the feature amounts are similar to each other. When thedetermination is made that they are similar, the controller 180recognizes that the detected face is identical to the face registeredpreliminarily in the internal memory 240. On the other hand, when thedetermination is made that they are not similar, the controller 180recognizes that the detected face is different from a face that is notregistered preliminarily in the internal memory 240. In this manner, thecontroller 180 can recognize whether the face, or person, identified inthe image data is identical to the face, or person, preliminarily storedin the internal memory 240 (personal authentication function).

A buffer 170 functions as a work memory of the image processor 160 andthe controller 180. The buffer 170 can be realized by DRAM, aferroelectric memory or the like.

The memory card 200 can be attached to or detached from a card slot 190.The card slot 190 can be mechanically or electrically connected to thememory card 200. The memory card 200 contains a flash memory or aferroelectric memory, and can store data such as video data generated bythe image processor 160.

The internal memory 240 may be composed of a flash memory, aferroelectric memory or the like. The internal memory 240 stores acontrol program for controlling the entire operation of the digitalvideo camera 100, information about a standard positional relationshipamong eyes, a nose and a mouth to be used for detecting a face, andinformation about a face registered preliminarily for recognizing aface.

An operation member 210 is a generic name of a user interface forreceiving user's operations. For example, it corresponds to, a crosskey, a set button, and the like for receiving user's operations.

The display monitor 220 can display an image (through image) representedby the video data generated by the CCD image sensor 140 and an imagerepresented by video data read from the memory card 200. Further, thedisplay monitor 220 can display also various menu screens for performingvarious settings of the digital video camera 100.

1-2-1. Correspondence of Terms

The internal memory 240 is one example of a storage unit. The CCD imagesensor 140 is one example of an imaging unit. The controller 180 is oneexample of a determination unit. The display monitor 220 is one exampleof a display unit.

1-3. Face Recognition Function

As described above, the digital video camera 100 has the facerecognition function (personal authentication function) for determiningwhether a face registered preliminarily is identical to a face of asubject captured by the CCD image sensor 140. The digital video camera100 determines whether a feature amount of a registered face is similarto a feature amount of a face included in a captured video. When it isdetermined that they are similar, the digital video camera 100determines that the registered face is identical to the captured face.

The digital video camera 100 determines whether the registered face ispresent in a captured subject during the operation for capturing thesubject. When it is determined that the registered face is present, thedigital video camera 100 performs, for example, an operation forfocusing on preferentially the registered face. For example, it isassumed that a boy which is a subject on the leftmost side as shown inFIG. 2 is registered preliminarily as an object to be recognized. Inthis case, the display monitor 220 displays a facial frame 230 aroundthe boy's face, as a recognition object. The digital video camera 100focuses on the boy's face as the recognition object.

With this function, if there is a subject which is to be preferentiallyfocused on, it is possible to focus preferentially on the subject byregistering preliminarily the face of the subject in the digital camera100.

1-3-1. Registration of Object to be Recognized

A method for registering preliminarily a face to be recognized isdescribed with reference to FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B. FIG. 3 is a flowchartdescribing a method for registering preliminarily a face to berecognized. FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams describing the method forregistering preliminarily a face to be recognized.

When the user selects a face registration mode for registering a face tobe recognized by operating the operation member 210, the faceregistration mode starts manually. The controller 180 of the digitalvideo camera 100 starts a mode for capturing a face to be registered(face capturing mode) (S110). When the face capturing mode is started,for example, an image shown in FIG. 4A is displayed on the displaymonitor 220.

The controller 180 determines whether an image of the face to berecognized is taken by the user (S120). The controller stands by untilthe image of the face to be recognized is taken by the user.

When the image of the face to be recognized is taken by the user, thedisplay monitor 220 displays a screen for prompting the user to entervarious information about the recognition object which is to beregistered (S130). For example, the display monitor 220 displays ascreen for prompting the user to enter information related to name andbirth date of the recognition object, and priority information, as shownin FIG. 4B. The priority information is a parameter to be used fordetermining a face to be preferentially recognized in a case where animage of a plurality of faces which are preliminarily registered aretaken.

The controller 180 determines whether the various pieces of informationare entered by the user (S140). The controller 180 stands by until thevarious pieces of information are entered by the user.

When the various pieces of information are entered, the controller 180records the registered various pieces of information and facial featureamount in the internal memory 240, then ending the face registrationmode.

In this manner, the user can register information about the face to berecognized and information about a person related to the face in thedigital video camera 100.

1-3-2. Monitor Display Provided when Recording of Images Using FaceRecognition Function (Personal Authentication Function)

The display operation of the display monitor 220 performed when thedigital video camera 100 performs recording of images using the facerecognition function (personal authentication function) will bedescribed using FIGS. 5 and 6A and 6B. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of thedisplay operation of the display monitor 220 performed when performingthe recording using the face recognition function. FIGS. 6A and 6B areschematic diagrams showing exemplary displays of the display monitor220.

A user can set the digital video camera 100 to a recording mode byoperating a mode setting dial included in the operation member 210. Whenthe digital video camera 100 is set to the recording mode, thecontroller 180 waits until personal authentication starts (S210).Specifically, the controller 180 detects a face (i.e., a face region)from image data generated by the CCD image sensor 140, and extracts afeature amount of the detected face. When the feature amount isextracted, the controller 180 performs personal authentication bydetermining whether the extracted feature amount is similar to any oneof the feature amounts of persons' faces stored in the internal memory240. Such a personal authentication process is performed on all of aplurality of extracted feature amounts of faces. That is, personalauthentication is performed on a plurality of people (faces).

As a result of the personal authentication, if it is authenticated thatthe person detected in the image data is the same as the personregistered preliminarily (i.e., it is verified that the face detectedfrom the image data is the same as the face registered preliminarily),then the controller 180 controls the display monitor 220 to display thename of the authenticated person, as shown in FIG. 6A (S220). Note that,in the example of FIG. 6A, a name display area (square region) isprovided and the name is displayed in the region. The size and shape ofthe name display area may be fixed or changed according to the number ofletters in the name displayed. Although, in the example of FIG. 6A, thebackground color of the name, i.e., the color of the display area, isset to white and the color of letters displayed is set to black, thebackground color of the name and the color of letters may be set toother colors. For example, the background color of the name may be setto black and the color of letters displayed may be set to white. Inaddition, although, in the example of FIG. 6A, the name display area isdisplayed at a location below the face, the name display region may bedisplayed at a location above or beside the face. Namely, the method ofdisplaying a name is not limited to that shown in FIG. 6A. When thecontroller 180 makes the display monitor 220 start displaying the name,the controller 180 starts the count of the elapsed time from the startof the display of the name (S230).

After starting the count of the time, the controller 180 determinesbased on the count whether a predetermined time has elapsed since thedisplay monitor 220 starts displaying of the name (S240).

If it is determined that the predetermined time elapses, then thecontroller 180 controls the display monitor 220 to stop displaying thename of the authenticated person (S260). For example, as shown in FIG.6B, the controller 180 controls the display monitor 220 to cause thedisplay of names to disappear.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the predetermined time hasnot elapsed yet, then the controller 180 determines whether a new personhas been subjected to personal authentication in the image data inaddition to the person currently authenticated (S250). If it isdetermined that a new person has not been subjected to personalauthentication, then the controller 180 continues to perform the countof the time. On the other hand, if it is determined that a new personhas been subjected to personal authentication, then the controller 180controls the display monitor 220 to display the name of the new persontoo (S220). Then, the controller 180 resets and restarts the count ofthe time from the start of personal authentication of the new person(S230).

As described above, in the digital video camera 100 according to thepresent embodiment, when a predetermined time has elapsed since thestart of display of the name of the person subjected to personalauthentication in a through image, the display of the name is stopped.The reasons for such control will be described below.

For example, if a name is displayed at all times while personalauthentication is performed, then the user can be notified of the nameof a person being captured. However, the display of the name covers aportion of video being actually captured, the user cannot recognize apart of an image being actually captured. Hence, in the presentembodiment, after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start ofdisplay of the name of a person subjected to personal authentication,the display of the name is stopped. By this control, the user can beinformed of the name of a person being currently captured, and canrecognize the most part of an image being actually captured almost allthe time during the recording.

In addition, when the digital video camera 100 according to the presentembodiment starts personal authentication of a new person whileperforming personal authentication on a person being captured, thedigital video camera 100 resets the count of the time from the start ofthe personal authentication. This control causes the user to be informedof the name of the newly personal-authenticated person for a sufficienttime.

1-4. Summary

In the digital video camera 100 according to the present embodiment,when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of display of thename of a personal-authenticated person in a through image, the displayof the name is stopped. By this control, the user can recognize the name(attribute information) of a person whose face has been identified, andcan clearly recognize a subject image after the display of the name isstopped, enabling to improve user convenience in visibility of attributeinformation and a subject image.

2. Second Embodiment

In the present embodiment, another exemplary monitor display operationperformed on shooting of an image using the face recognition functionwill be described. In the present embodiment, in displaying names ofplural authenticated people, when there is a possibility of displayingthe names with the names overlapped, display of the names is performedsuch that the name of a person with higher priority appears above thename with lower priority. Note that the hardware configuration of adigital video camera 100 of the present embodiment is the same as thatin the first embodiment, and thus, description thereof is omitted here.

The monitor display operation of the present embodiment performed whenperforming shooting of an image using the face recognition function(personal authentication function) will be described using FIGS. 7 and8A and 8B. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for describing a monitor displayoperation performed when performing shooting of an image using the facerecognition function. FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams fordescribing examples of monitor display.

In FIG. 7, when the digital video camera 100 is set to a recording modeby a user, a controller 180 waits until the personal authenticationstarts (S310).

When the personal authentication starts, the controller 180 determineswhether a plurality of people (subjects) are authenticated. If it isdetermined that a plurality of persons have been authenticated, then itis determined whether there is a possibility that displays of the namesof the plurality of authenticated persons may overlap each other (S320).In the present embodiment, it is defined that a name of a person isdisplayed at a predetermined location below an area of a face of theperson with reference to the location of the face area. Thus, bydetermining the locations of face areas of the plurality ofauthenticated people, it can be determined whether displays of the namesoverlap each other.

If it is determined that there is no possibility that displays of thenames may overlap each other, then the controller 180 controls a displaymonitor 220 to display the names of the authenticated people by a normaldisplay method (S330). For example, the controller 180 controls thedisplay monitor 220 to provide display such as that shown in FIG. 8A.

On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a possibility thatdisplays of the names may overlap each other, then the controller 180checks the priorities of the respective people subjected topersonal-authentication (S340). Specifically, the controller 180 checksthe priorities by accessing priority information stored in the internalmemory 240.

When the priorities are checked, the controller 180 controls the displaymonitor 220 such that the name of a person with a higher priority isdisplayed above the name of a person with a lower priority (S350). Forexample, the controller 180 controls the display monitor 220 to providethe display as shown in FIG. 8B. In the example of FIG. 8B, “TAROYAMADA” is set with a higher priority than “HANAKO TANAKA”, and thus thename “TARO YAMADA” is displayed above the name “HANAKO TANAKA”.Specifically, a part of the name “HANAKO TANAKA” is covered by thedisplay of “TARO YAMADA”.

Note that, instead of the process shown in FIG. 7, a process shown inFIG. 9 is also considered, as another example of a process to displaythe name of a person with a higher priority above the other when aplurality of people are authenticated.

In FIG. 9, when the digital video camera 100 is set to the recordingmode, the controller 180 waits until the personal authentication starts(S410).

When the personal authentication starts, the controller 180 determineswhether a plurality of people have been authenticated. If it isdetermined that a plurality of people have been authenticated, then thecontroller 180 checks the priorities of the respective people subjectedto personal-authentication (S420). Then, the controller 180 overlays thenames of the people in ascending order of priority on an image capturedby a CCD image sensor 140 to generate the through image data (S430). Forexample, when, as in the example shown in FIG. 8B, “TARO YAMADA” has ahigher priority than “HANAKO TANAKA”, first, the name “HANAKO TANAKA” isoverlaid on an image captured by the CCD image sensor 140, and then thename “TARO YAMADA” is overlaid. In general, in overlaying images, sincean image overlaid later overwrites an image overlaid first, the imageoverlaid later is displayed above the image overlaid first. Hence, bythus overlaying the names of people in ascending order of priority, thename of a person with a high priority is consequently displayed abovethe other.

Thereafter, the controller 180 controls the display monitor 220 todisplay the overlaid through image data (S440).

As such, in the digital video camera 100 according to the presentembodiment, when the names of a plurality of people subjected topersonal authentication are displayed and there is a possibility thatthe names of the plurality of people may be overlapped and displayed,the priority of each person which is set in advance is checked, and thename of a person with a higher priority is displayed above the name of aperson with a lower priority with the names overlapped. By thisarrangement, the digital video camera 100 can present preferentially thename of a person whose priority is considered to be higher by the userto the user.

Note that, when displays of names overlap each other, a name displayedabove and/or the background color of the name display area may betranslucent so that a name displayed below can be visually recognized.Note also that, although, in the above-described example, when there isa possibility that displays of names may overlap each other, the name ofa person with a higher priority is displayed more above, the displaylocation of the name of a person with a lower priority may be shiftedsuch that the names do not overlap each other.

As described above, in the digital video camera 100 according to thepresent embodiment, when displaying attribute information (e.g., name)about a plurality of people, attribute information about a person with ahigher priority is displayed above than attribute information about aperson with a lower priority. By this configuration, the name of aperson whose priority is considered to be higher by the user can bepresented to the user on a priority basis, enabling to improve userconvenience in the visibility of attribute information.

3. Third Embodiment

In the present embodiment, a configuration of a digital video camera 100to which both the idea of the first embodiment and the idea of thesecond embodiment are applied will be described. The hardwareconfiguration of the digital video camera 100 of the present embodimentis the same as that in the first embodiment, and thus, descriptionthereof is omitted here.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for describing the monitor display operation ofthe present embodiment performed when performing shooting of an imageusing the face recognition function. The monitor display operation ofthe present embodiment performed when performing shooting using the facerecognition function will be described using FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 10, when the digital video camera 100 is set to therecording mode by a user, a controller 180 waits until the personalauthentication starts (S310).

When the personal authentication starts, the controller 180 determineswhether a plurality of people (subjects) have been authenticated in thepersonal authentication. If it is determined that a plurality of peoplehave been authenticated, then the controller 180 determines whetherthere is a possibility that displays of the names of the plurality ofpeople may overlap each other (S320).

If it is determined that there is no possibility that displays of thenames may overlap each other, then the controller 180 controls a displaymonitor 220 to display the names of the authenticated people by a normaldisplay method (S330).

On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a possibility thatdisplays of the names may overlap each other, then the controller 180checks the priorities of the respective people subjected topersonal-authentication (S340). When the priorities are checked, thecontroller 180 controls the display monitor 220 such that the name of aperson with a higher priority is displayed above the name of a personwith a lower priority (S350). The above-described process is the same asthat described in the second embodiment.

Thereafter, the controller 180 starts the count of the time elapsedsince the start of the display of the names (S360). After starting thecount of the time, the controller 180 determines based on the countwhether a predetermined time has elapsed since the display monitor 220starts displaying the names (S370).

If it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed, then thecontroller 180 controls the display monitor 220 to stop displaying thenames of the authenticated people (S380). Thereafter, the processingreturns to step S320.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the predetermined time hasnot elapsed, then the controller 180 determines whether a new person hasbeen authenticated in addition to the persons currently authenticated(S390). If it is determined that a new person has not beenauthenticated, then the controller 180 continues to count the time. Onthe other hand, if it is determined that a new person has beenauthenticated in the personal authentication, then the controller 180controls the display monitor 220 to display also the name of the newperson (S320). Then, the controller 180 resets and restarts the count ofthe time from the start of personal authentication of the new person(S360).

Note that the process shown in FIG. 10 is a combination of the processof the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and the process of the secondembodiment shown in FIG. 7. Here, instead of the process of the secondembodiment shown in FIG. 7, the process shown in FIG. 9 may be combinedwith the process of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5. Specifically,in the process shown in FIG. 10, steps S420 to S440 shown in FIG. 9 maybe inserted instead of steps S320 to S350. As described above, the ideaof the first embodiment and the idea of the second embodiment can becombined.

4. Other Embodiments

As the embodiments of the present invention, the first to thirdembodiments are described above. However, the present invention is notlimited thereto. Hence, other embodiments of the present invention willbe described in this section.

Although in the above-described embodiments a CCD image sensor 140 isexemplified as an imaging unit, the imaging unit is not limited thereto.For example, the imaging unit may be composed of a CMOS image sensor oran NMOS image sensor.

An image processor 160 and a controller 180 may be composed of a singlesemiconductor chip or may be composed of different semiconductor chips.

Although, in the above-described embodiments, the controller 180 isconfigured to perform face detection and face recognition, thecontroller 180 does not necessarily need to be configured in thismanner. For example, a chip that performs face detection and facerecognition may be provided separately from the controller 180.Alternatively, a chip that performs face detection and a chip thatperforms face recognition may be different.

Although, in the above-described embodiments, a name is displayed as theattribute information of an authenticated person, other attributeinformation (address, sex, blood type, and so on.) may be displayed inaddition to or instead of the name.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The above-described embodiments can be applied to an imaging apparatushaving a face recognition function, such as a digital video camera and adigital still camera.

What is claimed is:
 1. An imaging apparatus comprising: a storage unitconfigured to store attribute information about a person and informationabout a priority of the person, the information about the priority ofthe person being stored with the attribute information about the personassociated with the information about the priority; an imaging unitconfigured to capture a subject to generate image data; and a displayunit configured to display the attribute information about the personincluded in an image represented by the image data generated by theimaging unit, the attribute information being displayed at any positionaround a face of the person, wherein, when displays of a plurality ofpieces of the attribute information for a plurality of people are to beoverlapped by the display unit, the display unit displays the attributeinformation of a person, of the plurality of people, having a higherpriority over the attribute information of a person, of the plurality ofpeople, having a lower priority, such that the attribute information ofthe person having the higher priority at least partially covers theattribute information of the person having the lower priority, andwherein, after the display unit displays the attribute information ofthe person having the higher priority so as to at least partially coverthe attribute information of the person having the lower priority andwhen the displays of the plurality of pieces of attribute informationfor the plurality of people become to not overlap, the display unitdisplays each of the plurality of pieces of attribute informationregardless of the priority of each of the plurality of people.
 2. Theimaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit storesthe attribute information about the person, a feature amount indicatingfeature of a face of the person, and the information about the priorityof the person, the attribute information about the person, the featureamount, and the information about the priority being associated witheach other, wherein the imaging apparatus further comprises: anextracting unit configured to extract the feature amount indicating thefeature amount of the face included in the image data generated by theimaging unit; and a determining unit configured to determine, based onthe feature amount extracted by the extracting unit, whether a personrelated to the extracted feature amount is the same as the personrelated to the feature amount stored in the storage unit, and wherein,when the determining unit determines that the person related to theextracted feature amount is the same, the display unit displays theattribute information about the person associated with the featureamount.
 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, furthercomprising an overlay unit configured to overlay the attributeinformation on the image data generated by the imaging unit to generatedata for display, wherein the display unit displays the data for displaygenerated by the overlay unit, and wherein, when generating data fordisplay to display the attribute information for the plurality ofpeople, the overlay unit overlays the attribute information on the imagedata generated by the imaging unit in ascending order of the priority ofthe person to generate the data for display.
 4. The imaging apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the attribute information is a name of theperson.
 5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theattribute information is a name of the person.
 6. An imaging apparatuscomprising: a storage unit configured to store attribute informationabout a person and information about a priority of the person, theinformation about the priority of the person being stored with theattribute information about the person associated with the informationabout the priority of the person; an imaging unit configured to capturea subject to generate image data; and a display unit configured todisplay the attribute information about the person included in an imagerepresented by the image data generated by the imaging unit, theattribute information being displayed at any position around a face ofthe person, wherein, when displays of a plurality of pieces of theattribute information for a plurality of people are not to beoverlapped, the display unit displays each of the plurality of pieces ofthe attribute information regardless of a priority of each of theplurality of people, and wherein, after the display unit displays eachof the plurality of pieces of the attribute information and when thedisplays of the plurality of pieces of the attribute information becometo overlap, the display unit displays the attribute information of aperson, of the plurality of people, having a higher priority over theattribute information of a person, of the plurality of people, having alower priority, such that the attribute information of the person havingthe higher priority at least partially covers the attribute informationof the person having the lower priority.